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Baked Crunchy Hot Honey Chicken – a family favorite loved by everyone! Simple cornflake-crusted chicken baked up on a sheet pan until crispy and delicious. A double coat of crumbs is the secret. But my sauce…well it’s even more special. Sweet honey with the perfect combination of spices and sea salt. A delicious weeknight dinner to serve up to family and friends.
If there’s one recipe I was really excited to share this week, it’s this hot chicken. I know it’s not anything too out of the ordinary, but we love this recipe. My family always enjoys any kind of saucy baked chicken, but I usually do more of a buffalo-style sauce.
It’s a dinner everyone agrees on, so that makes my life easy!
Every so often, I’ll switch gears and do my version of a Nashville hot honey sauce. I’ve been making hot honey sauce for years and years, but this is my perfect sauce that came to be over trial and error.
Of course, it’s the simplest sauce, but I’ll never complain about simplicity when it comes to cooking!
Ingredients
- cornflakes
- grated parmesan cheese
- smoked paprika
- onion powder
- garlic powder
- large eggs, beaten
- tablespoons hot sauce
- chicken breast tenderloins
- extra virgin olive oil, for drizzling
HOT HONEY
- honey
- hot sauce
- cayenne pepper
- chipotle chili powder
- garlic powder
- onion powder
- sea salt
- fresh thyme, cilantro, or parsley, for serving
Details
The coating is key for this hot honey chicken recipe. Crushed cornflakes are the star, they give the chicken that perfect crunch. I’ve tested other cereals, but everyone in the family agrees cornflakes have the best taste and crunch.
I use Nature’s Path, Organic Corn Flakes Cereal, which is naturally gluten-free and non-GMO. I order online, but if you’re looking for something in-store, Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s are both good options.
And of course, you can use the box of regular ole’ cornflakes we all grew up with. Either one works, I just prefer the organic, no gluten, no sugar option.
Crunch the cornflakes up in a food processor with paprika, onion powder, and garlic powder. Then add the parmesan cheese. It may sound odd, but the cheese adds a salty flavor that melts over the chicken tenders becoming crispy as it bakes.
Next, I dredge the chicken through eggs beaten together with hot sauce, then through the crumbs mixture. For a thicker coating, I’ll take the chicken and dip it back through the eggs, and the crumbs for a 2nd time. This takes slightly longer, but the thicker coating is always delish.
Next, olive oil on the chicken to help it crisp up…then bake! I don’t do anything fancy, just bake 25 minutes and this chicken comes out perfect every time.
Totally no fuss.
Before the chicken is done, warm the honey on the stove in a small saucepan with hot sauce, cayenne, and chipotle chili powder. The chili powder adds a very subtle smokiness to the sweet, spicy, salty sauce.
You can use as little or as much of the sauce as you’d like, but I end up drizzling every last drop of the sauce over the chicken. It’s SO DELICIOUS.
Herbs, then sea salt to finish. This really is the perfect hot honey chicken. Plus, I love how easy it is to prepare.
I serve this with sweet potato fries and my fav wintery salad. Highly recommend some crispy sweet potato fries on the side. So yummmy with the spicy sauce!
For leftovers, save the rest of your chicken in an airtight container and bake the next day or heat up in the air fryer.
Looking for more recipes? Here are a few to try:
Sheet Pan Buffalo Chicken Pizza
Spinach and Artichoke Stuffed Soft Pretzels
Fried Buffalo Goat Cheese Balls
Baked Buffalo Chicken Egg Rolls with Cilantro Lime Ranch
Buffalo Cauliflower with Spicy Tahini Ranch
Lastly, if you make this Baked Crunchy Hot Honey Chicken, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Baked Crunchy Hot Honey Chicken
Servings: 6
Calories Per Serving: 403 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Watch the How-To Reel
Ingredients
- 6 cups cornflakes (use gluten free, if needed)
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 2 tablespoons hot sauce
- 2 pounds chicken breast tenderloins
- extra virgin olive oil, for drizzling
Hot Honey
- 1/2 cup honey
- 2-3 tablespoons hot sauce
- 1-3 teaspoons cayenne pepper
- 3/4 teaspoon chipotle chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- sea salt
- fresh thyme, cilantro, or parsley, for serving
Instructions
- 1. Preheat the oven to 425° F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.2. In a food processor, combine the cornflakes, parmesan, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, and a pinch of salt. Pulse until you have fine crumbs. Alternatively, you can crush the crumbs in a ziplock bag by stepping on them. Dump the crumbs into a shallow bowl.3. Beat the eggs in a bowl, add the hot sauce and chicken, and toss well to coat. 3. Dredge the chicken through the crumbs, covering fully. Place on the prepared baking sheet. For a thicker coating, dip the chicken back through the eggs, then through the crumbs a 2nd time. Place on the prepared baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until crisp all around. 4. Just before the chicken is done cooking, make the sauce. In a sauce pot, warm together the honey, hot sauce, cayenne, chili powder, onion powder, and garlic powder, plus a pinch of salt. 5. Drizzle the warm sauce over the chicken. Top with herbs. If the sauce thickens, warm for 5 seconds in the microwave. Enjoy!
This post was originally published on January 4, 2023
Another winner winner chicken dinner! Just delicious!!
Thanks so much!! So glad to hear this recipe was enjoyed!! xx
Delish!
Thanks so much Deborah!!
Made this tonight so easy and very flavorful, definitely double dip the chicken in the breading sooo crunchy.
Hey Lori,
Thanks so much for making this recipe, I love to hear that it turned out well for you! Have a great weekend! xx
Made it tonight!!!! So crunchy and the sauce was perfect.
Hey Jill,
Happy Friday!!⛄️ Thanks so much for making this dish and sharing your review, so glad to hear it was a hit! xx
Didn’t like the onion powder made it smell and taste weird
Hi there,
So sorry to hear you did not enjoy this recipe with the onion powder. Thanks for giving it a try! xT
Blown away by how easy and delicious this is!!!
Rather than making the hot honey, could I just use the Mikes hot honey that I already have? Wondering if I should add the seasonings to it, but leave out the cayenne pepper.
Hey Nellie,
Sure, that should be just fine for you to do! Please let me know if you give this recipe a try, I hope you love it! xx
Hey Lara,
Happy Friday!!⛄️ Thanks so much for making this dish and sharing your review, so glad to hear it was a hit! xx
I feel like I just keep repeating myself…Made tonight ..FRTT..followed recipe to tee) DELICIOUS!
Thank you 😊
Donna L
Hey Donna,
I appreciate you giving this recipe a try, love to hear that it was enjoyed! Have a great weekend! xT
Made this tonight and shared with a friend. It was easy, very moist and delicious.
Thanks so much for making this recipe Valerie, I love to hear that it was enjoyed! Happy Friday! xT
Hot damn!! Very good…. Delicious & easy to make
Hey Paula,
Happy Friday!!⛄️ Thanks so much for making this dish and sharing your review, so glad to hear it was a hit! xx
Any sub for the parm to make this recipe dairy free or just omit it?
Hey Melissa,
Totally just skip it:) Please let me know if you have any other questions, I hope you love this recipe! xT
This was so delicious and so easy to whip up after work! We served it with biscuits and an arugula salad.
Hey Dendy,
Awesome!! Love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for making it! xT
So yummy!! The best part is for sure the crunch from the double coating!
Hey Emma,
Happy Thursday! Thanks so much for trying this recipe out, love to hear that it was enjoyed! xx
This recipe is simple and 10/10! I double battered half my chicken to compare and would definitely recommend that for more crunch! Honey hot sauce is perfect
Hey Sarah,
Awesome!! Love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for making it! xT
Should I cut my chicken breasts in half if they’re thick or use thinner tenderloin strips ? Thanks 🙂
Hey Kylie,
Sure, you can totally cut them in half! Please let me know if you have any other questions, I hope you love this recipe! xx
This was delightful! Crunchiest chicken I’ve ever made. I lightened the heat on the honey sauce using 1 tbsp hot sauce and 1/2 tsp cayenne based off reviews it was a bit hot, and because I wanted the sweetness of the honey to shine through. Just the right amount of sweetness and spice. Made with sweet potato fries and it was a great meal. Thanks for sharing T!
Hey Courtney,
Wonderful!! Thanks so much for trying this recipe out and sharing your feedback! So glad to hear it was enjoyed! xT
So yummy. Will definitely make again. Winner Winner Chicken Dinner!!
Hey Shelley,
Awesome!! Love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for making it! xT